The goal of Project REACH is to recruit, train, and retain a cadre of highly qualified mid-career professionals and recent college graduates, as highly-qualified core subject teachers with an additional certification in the area of special education, English as a second language, or bilingual education. These recruits will teach in high-need schools in the Houston Independent School District, a high-need LEA (HISD). Project REACH is specifically designed to prepare individuals to become core content teachers who also hold an additional certification in special education, English as a second language, or bilingual education. The HISD Alternative Certification Program will provide an intense, comprehensive, supportive 18-month teacher preparation to grant participants, which includes a one-year teaching internship leading to an initial Standard Texas Teacher Certification for 120 teachers, and an additional certification in the area of special education, English as a Second language, or bilingual education within the three year support period. Project REACH partner, University of St. Thomas, will provide support for the grant participants through the graduate level education coursework all participants will take, and partners Neuhaus Education Center and Intercultural Development Research Association will offer Project REACH participants on-going professional development opportunities through content-specific training experiences, specifically in the areas of special education, English as a second language, and bilingual education. Project REACH participants will also receive a total of three years of mentoring support through the school district, HISD-ACP, and work in reflective inquiry groups (Critical Friends Groups). Project REACH will recruit 120 participants over the life of the grant (40 in year 2; 40 in year 3; and 40 in year 4). Project REACH focuses on improving teacher retention through the use of a rigorous induction program which includes university graduate coursework, three years of mentoring support, and two years of participation in Critical Friends Groups.

Caminos will recruit, prepare, place and retain a critical mass of highly qualified mid-career professionals and recent graduates as bilingual/ESL teachers or bilingual/ESL teachers who also will become certified in special education and become teachers in high need urban Texas school districts: Dallas ISD (Texas Woman’s University and University of North Texas), Fort Worth ISD (Tarleton State University), Houston ISD (St. Thomas University) and Pasadena ISD (St. Thomas University). Caminos will produce a rigorous accelerated and unique 1½ year program resulting in an EC-6 bilingual/ESL certification with an additional certification in special education. One hundred and fifty teacher candidates (50 per year for three years) will participate in the program, with extensive personalized and online mentoring and support to ensure success and retention in the teaching profession.